Why do 28% of employees quit in their first 90 days? Poor onboarding practices.

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Dive Brief:

Over one quarter of employees are willing to quit a new job in the first 90 days — if they don't find it satisfactory — according to survey results from staffing agency Robert Half & Associates.

Nearly 89% of new hires said that they wanted to meet with their new manager on the first day of employment, while 83% said they had the expectation of being introduced to colleagues on their first day in order to start off on a positive note.

"I think one of the biggest mistakes is that organizations don't recognize the importance of onboarding," Mike Gremmer, a regional VP for Robert Half & Associates, told Business Record, "It's not just a one-size-fits-all type of approach; I think you have to cater it to the individual and the role."

Dive Insight:

Onboarding has become the starting point for organizational success in learning. When a company invests in the long-term success of new employees by giving them a solid orientation, along with opportunities that enable them to learn faster, the employment experience becomes that much more enjoyable and productive.

The findings of this survey, backed up by other examples, point to the increased happiness of new hires who are provided with a structured onboarding sequence. L&D pros would do well to remember that employees are bound to learn in different ways, and quality training programs will reflect this philosophy. New employees also shouldn't be caught off guard by day-to-day duties that are drastically different from their training sessions.

At the same, don't dump too much on new employees at once. That's one of the three crucial mistakes employers often make in onboarding their people, and it's sure to lead to burnout.

As we move into a more on-demand models of learning, expect complete onboarding that takes place virtually — before employees start their first day, with simulated work experiences and peer-to-peer communities that bring new and seasoned employees closer. Collaborative tecnologies will also evolve, providing a sense of teamwork that fosters a more connected culture and creates a positive impression of co-workers.